From The Tribune staff reports
AUBURN — A group of students gathered to protest here Tuesday evening due to three recent reports of rape at Auburn University, including at least one at a fraternity house on campus.
“A female student reported today (Wednesday) that she was raped … and physically assaulted a week ago in an on-campus residential facility by an acquaintance,” the university emailed to its students on September 15. “Statistics about sexual assault indicate that nearly 90% of all completed or attempted rapes on college campuses are committed by acquaintances.”
The fraternity where the reported rape occurred has not yet been publicly named.
Protesters Tuesday circulated a petition begun by Regan Moss, urging further action specifically when this type of crime occurs at a fraternity house.
“Within one week, 3 reports have been delivered to the Auburn Community acknowledging instances of rape, harassment, and assault. Unfortunately, these are only 3 of the many accounts, most of which will go unreported, largely because of stigma and a variety of other valid choices by victim/survivors. Even so, Auburn University, as compared to every other university/college in the state, had the most reports in 2020-2021,” the petition states. “There are no clear written consequences for student organizations that precipitate these occurrences. There are no clear written consequences when rape, violence, or assault happen at an organization’s function; specifically, no consequences for (f)raternities.”
On Sept. 8, campus officials alerted students via email that a female student reported being raped and physically assaulted in an on-campus residential facility a week earlier
Then, on Sept. 10, a female student reported being forcibly touched by a stranger who jogged by her while on her way to Aubie Hall in the Village, according to Auburn student newspaper, The Plainsman.
Auburn reported 12 rapes on the main campus in 2019, which is the most recent official data.
